The Opelousas courier., 1887-04-23
George w. HudspetHn.

: The largest funeral eortege ever seen III
/ Opelousas, on Wednesday accompanied to its
last resting place, all that was mortal OF fhe
subject of this obituary. Three long lines Of
/ pedestrians and persons i'll carriages attested
! the esteem and respect in which he was held
! throughout his native parish Sister towns
were we'll represented in the procession.
As we passed the new Court House, IN
/ which he took So much pride, We beheld the
| u. 8. flag unfurled Mt half mast, while on the
outer walls in front of the main entrance, en-
! circlss1 with fest0ons OF Grape, were the words
80 We NOUN our loss The sentence touched
! our heart it seemed to express so we'll the
feelings of all who had known the deceased
| in the various positions he had 80 ably filled.
After imposing ceremonies at the Catholic
| Church, the procession reformed and marched
| to the Protestant cemetery. when the mason
ic fraternity took charge of the body, and
with appropriate ceremonies. laid it forever
at rest.
! Judge Hudspeth was horn uni raised on
+ his fathers farm on Bayou Btrui, i'll this par
; ish. In 1851, he vas sent to that renowned
seat Of learning, the University OF Virginia,
While pursuing his studies, he was noted for
yerence and diguitied, gentlemanly deport-
.nept. In 1883, be returned to his home ana
soon after attended the law school i'll New
Orleans, where he was admitted to the bar in
1860. He then entered the office OF the late
Judge John e. King in this town. and was
siaua linked her fate with tue Contederacy
Though he had warmly esponsed the party
represented in the canvass OF 1860 by Bell
! and Everett, no sooner had his native State
withdrawn from the Union, than he lald aside
! law books aud briefs and left for the seat oil
war in Virginia, as "a lieutenant of the I'd
volunteer company raised in st. Landry. AT
/ ter participating in many battles and notably
the first Manassas or Bull run, he returned
home and assisted in organizing a cavalry
| soyx L. t>a. ,&nsr,
company was attached to the regiment COM
manded by Coils. Bringier and the late James
| Nj. Thompson. He followed the fortunes OF
the Confederacy until after the battle of
Mansfield. When the great surrender came
and the Confederate banner was furled for
| ever, be was -paroled aud he returned to his
! old home on Bayou B9uf.
! Resumiug, after u few mouths, the practice
of his profession, he formed partnership
! with Judge B. A. Martel. In 1865, he was
seut to represent St. Landry in the Legisla
| tuse, aud in the latter part OF the year, he
! In 1866 he was married to Miss Emily A.
| Roach, "a native Of St. Landry. In 1868 he
was elected District Attorney for the then 9th
Judicial District. To this office he was again
and again elected until the death Of Judge
j. j. Morgan i'll 1876, when i'll february of
that year, he was appointed Judge for the un-
expired term. At the ensuing election he
was returned TO the Office by al overwbelnl-
ing majority over his competitor Under the
Constitution of 1872. he was again elected
Judge aud agaiu in 1881, when he received
the unanimous vote of the parish for that
office. His present term would have expired
in April next.
This sketch of his life, imperfect as it is, is
sufficient TO show the popularity OF Judge
Hudspeth in this parish. 1t was no greater
than be deserved. He was noted for his legaI
attainments as shown by decisions which not
uufrequently received the cominendation o.
the Supreme Court /; for his energy and perse
verence, his industry aud his impartiality
But above all. for his great moral worth. TIL.
correetI.ess Of his habits, and his unswerin
fidelity to bis friends. He leaves besides hi
wife an only child, daughter.
A kind father, devoted husband, a true
friend-who would be morel One of St Ian
dry's best citizens has gone from us. Hi
passing away was like the child falling
asleep He was ready for the summons
Death had no terror for him. True TO the
tenets of his church, he had, at his own re
quest, received its last sacrament. He ha,
made his peace with his God. 1t was only {
few days ago, to dear friend he said: "
must GO. regret to leave my family and m.
friends but am ready. am as we'll pre-
pared now to go as 1 expect ever to be.
These words SO suggestive of a blessed i'm
mortality, how consolng they must he t
those dear ones in their great bereavement
We" his friends, "monrn our loss"